Cringeworthy Meat Loaf performance at Romney rally

By

Martin Zavan, ninemsn

Randy Owen, Meat Loaf, Mitt Romney, John Rich and Big Kenny. (AAP)

Those who heard Meat Loaf's off-key performance at the 2011 AFL Grand Final would have hoped that he would confine his singing to the shower but the 65-year-old has shocked again while singing a patriotic tune after endorsing Mitt Romney for president.

The rock star told a crowd in Defiance in the battleground state of Ohio on Thursday that he had never endorsed a candidate before but "in 2012 this is the most important election in the history of the United States".

The 'Bat Out of Hell' artist then joined a group of country singers with an off-key rendition of 'America the Beautiful'.

Meat Loaf seemed most concerned with singing louder than the accompanying vocalists, at one point drawing laughter from the Republican candidate as he spectacularly failed to a hit a high note.

Mr Romney smiled awkwardly as he slowly distanced himself from the ageing singer, who was dripping with sweat by the end of the laboured performance.

Clint Eastwood was another highly touted endorsement of Mitt Romney, but the Hollywood icon also raised eyebrows with a rambling speech at the Republican National Convention.

President Barack Obama has had better luck with celebrity backers, with pop star Katy Perry starring in a free performance to rally voters in Las Vegas this week.

President Obama and Mr Romney are currently neck-and-neck in nationwide polls, with the election now less than two weeks away.